Page 265 - Neglected Arabia (1906-1910)

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loosely thrown. 'These they laid one by one in regular rows in the
boxes sent from Norway tor the purpose. One quick-fingered girl
was able to pack seven boxes a clay, although she was not well, An-
other, an old woman, could only finish one and a half. Each was to
receive two cents a box for the packing. So none could grow very
rich at the work, although what they received no doubt meant a great
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deal to them. The dates not good enough for packing were set aside,
and later taken upstairs and dried in the sun, to be packed in baskets
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or to be cooked and dried, and of some date syrup would be made.
*. • While they were standing watching the packing, the hamals (men
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who carried the dates from the boats to the packers) brought a special
kind of dates, and, on perceiving this, a large number of the packers ran
to fill their boxes with the kind which were easier to pack. But the
heavy stick applied on the back of a few dispersed them quickly to
their work. The whole court had hundreds and hundreds of boxes
filled with dates brought from the surrounding groves in large boats,
such as were used perhaps in St. Paul’s time.
After seeing the packing process, they went to visit some of the
women living on the place, and Jasamin’s heart glowed with love for
Christ, as she told them of the birth of Jesus, and that He gave His
life for them. Then she told them of Joseph in Egypt. Some seemed
to listen, and others were indifferent. Then one stopped her and
asked if she was married, and why not, and could not understand
when she said she did not wish to have a husband. Among them, all
but very little girls are either married, divorced or widows. Cut few
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women are not divorced once or more. Then they asked where she
bought the cloth for her dress, and how much it cost, and won’t she
give them a dress? But she brings them again and again back to
the subject, and asks if they would not like to buy some Gospels that
would tell them all about Jesus. At first they are indifferent and
afraid to take any, then one person gets courage to take one, and
then others wish them, especially some men, who were near listening.
• • Only one or two of the women and girls could read; but others had
some one in the family who could read for them. One man. named
Mohammed (after their false prophet), asked for a whole Bible, and
it was given him. He clasped it to his heart and was very pleased,
and said he would read it all. As she departed, all said, 41 Do come
every day and talk to us.”
The long, hot day finally drew to a close, and as it neared sunset
the packers gradually stopped their work and repaired to the mat
huts, which had been set up temporarily for their use. Soon the
smoke of the camp fires arose, and the women began to bake the
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Arab bread and some cooked rice for the evening meal. One poor

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